Category: 6. Sports

JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – The FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Quarter-Finals are here, and few would have predicted this matchup when the tournament tipped off. Iran have lived up to their pedigree, sweeping Group B to advance directly to the last eight. Chinese Taipei, meanwhile, have gone further than perhaps a number expected, riding the confidence from a gritty Qualification to Quarter-Finals win over Jordan to earn their shot at one of Asia’s most accomplished sides.

For both, the stakes are crystal clear: win and secure a Semi-Finals berth, or see the campaign end in Jeddah. Iran enter as favourites, having never lost to Chinese Taipei in FIBA Asia Cup history, but this Taipei squad has shown enough firepower to believe they can change that narrative.

Key matchup: Sina Vahedi vs Lin Ting-Chien

This duel between two young guards could define the night. Vahedi has been Iran’s main offenive engine in 2025, leading the team in scoring and delivering at least 15 points in every game so far. His poise, shot-making and ability to create under pressure make him a constant threat. Lin, on the other hand, is searching to recapture his early-tournament form. After averaging 18.0 points in Chinese Taipei’s first two games, his production has dipped to 8.0 in the last two. If he finds his scoring touch again, coach Gianluca Tucci’s side’s chances improve dramatically.

X-Factor: Matin Aghajanpour

When Aghajanpour’s shot is falling, Iran tend to dominate. In the two games where he shot 50.0% or better from the field, Team Melli won by an average of 32 points. In the one game he struggled, shooting under 30 percent, Iran had to grind out a narrow win over Japan. Taipei’s defene will need to find ways to disrupt his rhythm early.

Stats don’t lie

Taipei boast one of the tournament’s top rebounders in Brandon Gilbeck, yet they head into this matchup with a rebounding deficit on paper. Iran are averaging 7.5 more boards per game, a testament to their committee approach on the glass. If Taipei cannot close that gap, second-chance points could tilt the balance heavily toward the favourites.

Previous Asia Cup meetings

History leans decisively toward Iran. Team Melli are 7-0 against Chinese Taipei in FIBA Asia Cup play dating back to 2003. While several of those games were tightly contested, Taipei have yet to break through. A win here would not only snap that streak but also propel them into their first Semi-Finals since 2013.

For Iran, this is about maintaining momentum, keeping their record spotless and moving one step closer to reclaiming the crown. For Chinese Taipei, it’s the ultimate test of belief, a chance to topple a giant and rewrite their own FIBA Asia Cup story.

FIBA

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India-May Mann produced a moment of individual brilliance to seal a 1-0 victory for Tonga over Fiji, securing 5th place at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship in Apia.

The decisive strike came in the 70th minute when the young forward latched onto a through ball and delivered an exquisite finish to put Tonga ahead. Just four minutes later, Fiji spurned their best opportunity of the match as Teonila Levuiciva fired narrowly wide of the left-hand post with the goalkeeper beaten.

Fiji coach Marika Rodu had rotated almost his entire starting XI to give squad members valuable minutes, but his side were second best for much of the opening half. Tonga dominated possession and created several half-chances, coming closest when Mann caused chaos in the Fiji defence just before the break. Despite the pressure, neither side fashioned a clear-cut opportunity, and the teams went into half-time locked at 0-0.

Six changes at the interval injected more urgency into Fiji’s attack, and they nearly broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when substitute Adi Reva’s powerful strike from the edge of the box was saved superbly by Tongan goalkeeper Ofa Filimone.

Tonga responded with a pair of chances, first Mann forcing a sharp save from Fiji’s Beatrice Qaniuci in the 59th minute, followed shortly by Liani Vaha testing the keeper from distance.

Into injury time and Shania Singh forced a diving save from Filimone in what proved to be Fiji’s last chance to force a penalty shootout.

Mann’s well-taken winner ultimately proved decisive, capping a strong all-round performance from Tonga, who fully deserved their victory, while Fiji were left to settle for sixth place.

Fiji: 0

Tonga: 1 ( India-may MANN 70’)

HT: 0-0

Shubman Gill is the flavour of the season after his stupendous show in the recent Test series against England but he will face a contender in Axar Patel for vice-captaincy in the Indian squad for the Asia Cup T20 scheduled in the UAE next month.

Also, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is set to play in the tournament and might be rested for the opening Test against the West Indies in early October.

The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is likely to select the squad for the Asia Cup on August 19 or 20 depending on when the Centre of Excellence’s (CoE) Sports Science team sends the medical bulletin of all players, including that of skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who has already started batting at the nets in Bengaluru.

There will be some tricky selection calls but the Indian selectors would certainly like to maintain continuity which has given them a lot of success from the time Suryakumar took over as T20 captain.

While Axar was the designated vice-captain during India’s last series against England at home, Gill was the deputy when Suryakumar was first appointed full-time skipper of the T20 squad in Sri Lanka last year.

It is understood that the selection committee won’t be too keen to tinker with the set-up as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya form a solid top five.

“Abhishek Sharma is world’s No. 1 T20 batter in last ICC rankings. Sanju Samson has been fantastic last season with both bat and gloves. So it will certainly be a tough call but Shubman in current form (although in Tests) can’t be ignored. He had a good IPL also. Problem for selectors is, there are too many performers at the top of the order,” a BCCI source privy to developments told PTI.

With so many players in top-order, it would be very difficult to find a slot for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan.

Even KL Rahul, who is now the first choice keeper in ODIs, is unlikely to be considered as he doesn’t bat in the middle-order.

Second keeper’s slot

While Samson is all but certain to be the first keeper, the choice for the second keeper’s slot will be between Jitesh Sharma and Dhruv Jurel. While Jurel was a part of the last T20 series, Jitesh had been impressive for RCB during their IPL winning campaign. He has also revelled in the role of a finisher.

Reddy unlikely to be fit in time

While Hardik Pandya remains India’s first choice white ball seam bowling all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who suffered injury during the England series, is unlikely to get fit in time. Shivam Dube, who made a good comeback against England, is likely to find his place in the squad.

Axar and Washington Sundar are set to be the other two spin-bowling all-rounders in the squad.

Who will be third seamer, Prasidh Krishna or Harshit Rana?

The main bone of contention will be the seam-bowling attack where Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh have locked their slots. The third slot is a fight between Prasidh Krishna, who has 25 wickets in last IPL, and the burly Harshit Rana, who has ability to bowl some really heavy deliveries.

Likely contenders: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Verma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana/Prasidh Krishna, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma/Dhruv Jurel.

Beating a 12-year-old rival was once child’s play for an elite swimmer but it has become an unlikely badge of honor when China’s Yu Zidi is in the race.

Only the very best in women’s swimming were able to beat Yu at the world championships where the prodigy became the youngest medalist in the global meet’s 52-year history.

Yet even as the swimming world marveled at Yu’s talent, her age raised questions about the ethics of someone so young competing at the highest level.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said Argentina made the most of a couple of bounces of the ball in Wellington last year to stay in the fight and claim a win.

“They create a lot. They’re a team with a lot of experience. A lot of them play in Europe, they’re well coached and play with passion.

“They’ve got speed to finish, so they’re threatening. It’s Test footy and among the top eight anyone can beat anyone on the night. You’ve got to be at your best in every game.”

Robertson said each of the teams would be feeling how competitive this year’s Championship is likely to be.

“You’ve got an Aussie team that played some great footy at the back of their Test series [with the British & Irish Lions]. 

“You’ve got the South Africans. We know how strong they are and the Argentinians on their day are so creative. It’s a hell of a competition, very tight and just what we need.”

He confirmed that No.8 Wallace Sititi and prop Tamaiti Williams will not be considered for the first of the two Tests.

Robertson said, Ardie Savea, who has played 17 games already in the season and spent most of those on the field, has had a three-week break and was looking in the form of his life.

“We’ll take it  week by week. We’re mindful of his minutes, but one thing about him is he’s resilient and consistent. We look after and manage individuals, but he’s in the zone at the moment.”

With injuries at halfback, Cortez Ratima looks set to start in Cordoba.

Robertson said, “He’s played 10 Tests for us now. We gave him a good crack last year to be ready for moments like this. He’s learning like everyone does, but he gets the ball off the deck and into a 10’s [first five-eighths’] hands and we want to play fast, and he’ll get better with experience and maturity.”

He said everyone knows what is ahead of them, and now was the chance to build and perform without many of the distractions that occur at home in New Zealand.

“One of the gifts of being involved with an international rugby team is touring. You’re living with a group of people that love the same sport as you. You’ve got some great mates and a target at the end of the week. But you enjoy the process of getting there and having fun.”

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Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has gotten engaged to his long-term partner Georgina Rodríguez.

She announced the news on social media alongside a picture of a large ring, writing “Yes I do. In this and in all my lives” in her native Spanish.

No further details have been shared. Ronaldo, who is the most followed person on Instagram, has not yet made a comment about their engagement.

The couple have been together for nine years, after they met at a Gucci shop in Madrid where Rodríguez was working. He was playing at the Spanish club Real Madrid at the time.

The Portugal and Al-Nassr player has five children in total, two of whom he shares with Rodríguez.

Their youngest daughter Bella was born in April 2022, alongside a baby boy who was stillborn.

Rodríguez has also helped to raise Ronaldo’s other three children.

The 31-year-old, who starred in her own Netflix reality show I Am Georgina, previously addressed speculation around her engagement status. On the programme, she said her friends were “always joking about the wedding.”

“Since Jennifer Lopez’s song ‘The Ring Or When’ came out, they started singing it to me. And well, this is not up to me,” she added.

Famous faces including Kim Kardashian have liked the engagement announcement on social media. Piers Morgan, who interviewed Ronaldo in 2022, wished them “as much success in their marriage as he’s had on the football pitch!”

Celebrity make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury commented that it was “fabulous news”. Lauren Sanchez-Bezos, who married Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in June, said she was “so happy” for the couple.

The family currently live in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, where the Ronaldo plays for Al-Nassr. He joined the club in December 2022 for a reported annual salary of £177m ($238m).

In June 2025, it was announced that the 40-year-old’s contract had been extended until 2027 after speculation that he was preparing to retire.

In a post on X, Ronaldo wrote: “A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together.”